Billerica High 1986 grad to be its principal

BILLERICA -- A Billerica Memorial High School graduate and New Hampshire teacher of the year has been named the new high-school principal.

Thomas Murphy, 44, was chosen from among three finalists who interviewed and visited the school district last month. Feedback from those who met Murphy on his visit gave him overwhelming support, said Superintendent of Schools Timothy Piwowar, who chose him for the position.

"The nearly universal feedback was that there was one candidate who rose above the rest, and that was Tom," Piwowar said.

Murphy is a 1986 graduate of Billerica High School and 1990 graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a bachelor's in history. He began his career as a history teacher at the high school, then became an assistant principal before taking his current job in 2010 as principal of Windham High School in Windham, N.H.

He was named principal of the year by the New Hampshire Association of School Principals in January.

Murphy's appointment was announced at Monday's School Committee meeting. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Current Principal Kevin Soraghan, who has had the position since 2007, said in January he will retire at the end of the school year. Murphy will start July 1.

Other finalists for the position were John Dillon, assistant principal at Lexington's Minuteman Regional High School, and John Smith, principal of Westboro High School.

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A fourth finalist, Layne Millington, principal of Swampscott High School, removed his name from consideration before the interview stage.

In all, 45 applicants were reviewed by a screening committee made up of 15 administrators, teachers, parents and others.

"We're incredibly excited about the vision Tom is going to bring to the high school," Piwowar said. "We have the same goal -- we want to make Billerica High School the best high school in the state, hands down."

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